Bishops Heath

The existing lawns ranged in size from 100m2 courtyards to 4000m2 plus situated between the main entrance and the house. They were in a poor condition and suffering due to the dry conditions. The client initially wanted a quote to turf the area. We did advise at this initial site visit that turfing the lawns would not provide a long term solution and would not be cost effective.  We were asked to come up with a scheme to improve the lawns and ensure they were able to be maintained to a high level. In addition to this, the existing tennis court needed to be removed and a pond installed in its place.

DESIGN & SPECIFICATION

Site investigation and soil samples showed a poor silty topsoil, averaging less than 100mm was present overlying a heavy clay based subsoil, so the lawns laid wet in the winter and dried out to quickly in the summer. We proposed a robust primary and secondary drainage system to improve the lawns through the winter combined with a fully automatic pop-up irrigation system to keep them lush and green during summer months. The drainage system was designed to feed into a large underground chamber, this water is then pumped back into the irrigation storage tanks. A simple pond was designed to sit adjacent to an existing circular paved area and mimic the pond situated in the clients Danish home and proposed to occupy the tennis court area.

ONSITE WORKS

Inscapes started onsite August 2018, the tennis court was broken up and that stone was used to create a base for the new irrigation tank and pump area. A piped drainage system was installed together with irrigation mains. Material from the newly excavated pond was used to soften the profile of areas of the site that had been poorly landscaped previously. The existing grass sward was then koro’d off and arisings removed from site. The secondary drainage was installed, sand and topsoil imported to ameliorate the existing topsoil. It was then cultivated ready for turfing. The existing underground sewer main was encountered and lead to a re-routing of irrigation and drainage systems. The pond developed into a pond suitable for Koi Carp and required concrete lining and fibreglassing. Additional tree planting including a 10m Willow, was added to the project. Large roll turf was used to complete the lawns. Our works on the lawns and pond have led to further planting works, fabrication and installation of wrought iron work gates and railings.

We have continued with maintenance of the site since completion.

Inscapes were successful in winning a BALI National Landscape Award for this project of domestic garden construction over £250K in Old Windsor.